NameCensus.

UK surname

Surtees

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Surtees in County Durham.

In the 1881 census there were 900 people recorded with the Surtees surname, ranking it #4,238 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,594, ranked #3,893, up from #4,238 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Bishop Wearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Sunderland and Inverness West Rural.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Surtees is 1,656 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.1%.

1881 census count

900

Ranked #4,238

Modern count

1,594

2016, ranked #3,893

Peak year

2002

1,656 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Surtees had 900 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,238 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,594 in 2016, ranked #3,893.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,298 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Surtees surname distribution map

The map shows where the Surtees surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Surtees surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Surtees over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 588 #4,351
1861 historical 484 #5,397
1881 historical 900 #4,238
1891 historical 936 #4,422
1901 historical 1,219 #4,049
1911 historical 1,298 #3,673
1997 modern 1,582 #3,731
1998 modern 1,621 #3,796
1999 modern 1,652 #3,757
2000 modern 1,647 #3,748
2001 modern 1,638 #3,693
2002 modern 1,656 #3,724
2003 modern 1,583 #3,803
2004 modern 1,583 #3,815
2005 modern 1,571 #3,792
2006 modern 1,550 #3,833
2007 modern 1,543 #3,891
2008 modern 1,547 #3,910
2009 modern 1,580 #3,922
2010 modern 1,634 #3,884
2011 modern 1,639 #3,838
2012 modern 1,625 #3,788
2013 modern 1,646 #3,817
2014 modern 1,650 #3,832
2015 modern 1,590 #3,924
2016 modern 1,594 #3,893

Geography

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Where Surtees' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Bishop Wearmouth, Bywell St Peter, Bywell St Andrew (Stocksfield Hall), Ovingham (Ovington, Mickley, Prudhoe, Prudhoe and Jarrow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Sunderland and Inverness West Rural. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
4 Bywell St Peter, Bywell St Andrew (Stocksfield Hall), Ovingham (Ovington, Mickley, Prudhoe, Prudhoe Northumberland
5 Jarrow Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 037 Northumberland
3 Sunderland 028 Sunderland
4 Inverness West Rural Highland
5 Sunderland 009 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Surtees

These lists show first names that appear often with the Surtees surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Surtees

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Surtees, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Surtees surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Surtees household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Surtees is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Surtees is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Surtees falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Surtees is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Surtees, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Surtees

The surname Surtees originated in the North East of England, particularly in the counties of Northumberland and Durham. It is derived from the Old English word 'soor', meaning 'sour' or 'bitter', combined with 'tees', referring to the River Tees. The name likely referred to someone who lived near the sour or acidic waters of the River Tees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as Surteys. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.

The Surtees family played a prominent role in the history of County Durham. In the 12th century, a member of the family, Robert de Surteys, held lands in Dinsdale and Middleton St. George. By the 13th century, the family had established themselves as lords of the manor of Dinsdale.

A notable figure bearing the Surtees name was Robert Surtees (1779-1834), an English antiquary and historian who published several works on the history and antiquities of County Durham. His major work, "The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham," was published in four volumes between 1816 and 1840.

Another influential individual was Reverend Robert Surtees (1805-1864), an English clergyman and historian who wrote extensively on the history of County Durham and the surrounding areas. His works include "The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham" and "The History of the Town and County of Newcastle upon Tyne."

In the 19th century, William Surtees (1809-1858) was a renowned English railway engineer who played a key role in the construction of several important railway lines in England, including the Stockton and Darlington Railway and the London and Birmingham Railway.

The Surtees name has also been associated with notable figures in sports. Robert Surtees (1906-1992) was an English Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and multiple Isle of Man TT winner, while John Surtees (1934-2017) was a British motor racing driver and successful competitor in both Formula One and motorcycle racing, winning the Formula One World Championship in 1964.

Throughout its history, the Surtees surname has maintained strong ties to the North East of England, particularly in the counties of Northumberland and Durham, where it originated and flourished.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Surtees families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Surtees surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 470 Surtees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.99x.

County Total Index
Durham 470 17.99x
Northumberland 219 16.77x
Middlesex 51 0.58x
Yorkshire 30 0.34x
Cumberland 21 2.78x
Lancashire 16 0.15x
Surrey 16 0.37x
Kent 14 0.47x
Bedfordshire 13 2.86x
Staffordshire 10 0.34x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.94x
Hertfordshire 4 0.66x
Sussex 4 0.27x
Dumfriesshire 3 1.55x
Essex 3 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.25x
Derbyshire 2 0.15x
Dorset 2 0.35x
Norfolk 2 0.15x
Oxfordshire 2 0.37x
Suffolk 2 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.18x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x
Hampshire 1 0.06x
Morayshire 1 0.73x
Renfrewshire 1 0.15x
Warwickshire 1 0.05x
Worcestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 47 Surtees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.96x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 47 20.96x
Gateshead 33 16.88x
Benfieldside 31 180.44x
Ryhope 30 165.47x
Westoe 30 20.26x
Elswick 24 23.02x
Westgate 23 28.43x
Hetton Le Hole 20 60.42x
Ford 19 242.66x
Conside Knitsley 18 88.63x
Tanfield 17 54.73x
Tudhoe 16 70.02x
Nether Denton 15 1546.39x
Tynemouth 15 21.44x
Chirton 14 47.36x
Corbridge 14 292.89x
Heugh 14 1473.68x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 12 15.38x
Renhold 12 764.33x
Haswell 10 53.42x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 8.84x
Chelsea London 9 3.40x
Cowpen 9 29.92x
Edmondbyers 9 849.06x
Prudhoe 9 99.01x
St Giles 9 55.21x
Battersea 8 2.48x
Belsay 8 677.97x
South Gosforth 8 526.32x
Crook Billy Row 7 20.93x
Dawdon 7 21.79x
Hart Thorpe Bulmer 7 721.65x
Longbenton 7 12.65x
Monkwearmouth Shore 7 13.73x
Newcastle On Tyne St 7 10.34x
Norton 7 72.92x
Usworth 7 50.47x
Woolwich 7 6.33x
Bishop Auckland 6 17.12x
Bolam Harnham Bradford 6 821.92x
Chollerton 6 163.49x
Dalton In Huddersfield 6 30.79x
Ealing 6 7.65x
Ebchester 6 148.51x
Edmondsley 6 215.05x
Hackney London 6 1.22x
Harton 6 58.14x
Hornsey 6 5.40x
Islington London 6 0.71x
Iveston 6 49.88x
Jesmond 6 32.64x
Paddington London 6 1.86x
Seaham 6 63.03x
Auckland St Helen 5 181.82x
Bournmoor 5 121.95x
Broomley 5 427.35x
Burslem 5 5.89x
Lambton 5 1111.11x
Lavendon 5 210.08x
Liverpool 5 0.79x
Moorsley 5 178.57x
Preston In Tynemouth 5 97.28x
Redworth 5 299.40x
Stockton On Tees 5 3.97x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 1.59x
Throston 5 99.80x
Brighton 4 1.34x
Brodsworth 4 384.62x
Cheeseburn Grange 4 1333.33x
Kirkby Ireleth 4 76.92x
Lambeth 4 0.52x
Merrington 4 79.52x
Plumstead 4 4.01x
Rotherham 4 8.16x
Ryton 4 43.57x
Shildon 4 19.06x
Upper Denton 4 869.57x
Willington 4 26.51x
Everton 3 0.90x
North Shields 3 11.51x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Surtees surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 73
Elizabeth 44
Margaret 38
Jane 34
Isabella 20
Ann 19
Sarah 18
Hannah 17
Annie 10
Ellen 9
Anne 8
Emily 8
Dorothy 7
Eliza 7
Harriet 6
Martha 6
Alice 5
Caroline 5
Catherine 5
Margret 4
Ada 3
Eleanor 3
Eliz. 3
Emma 3
Ethel 3
Georgina 3
Henrietta 3
Isabel 3
Lucy 3
Margt. 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Barbara 2
Catharine 2
Charlotte 2
Christina 2
Dora 2
Edith 2
Elenor 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Jessie 2
Louisa 2
Almeria 1
Bertha 1
Eliz.Jane 1
Elizb. 1
Isabela 1
Isobel 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Surtees surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 71
William 63
Thomas 51
George 37
Robert 29
Joseph 28
Henry 13
Edward 11
Ralph 11
Richard 10
James 9
Charles 8
Anthony 6
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Matthew 5
Arthur 4
Jonathan 4
Benjamin 3
Isaac 3
Michael 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Alexander 2
Christopher 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Frederic 2
Martin 2
Nicholas 2
Ridley 2
Robt. 2
Roger 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Allan 1
Chas 1
Chas.H. 1
Clement 1
Edmund 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Ewd. 1
Geo. 1
Gordon 1
Jennison 1
Jno. 1
Jno.J. 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1

FAQ

Surtees surname: questions and answers

How common was the Surtees surname in 1881?

In 1881, 900 people were recorded with the Surtees surname. That placed it at #4,238 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Surtees surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,594 in 2016. That gives Surtees a modern rank of #3,893.

What does the Surtees surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Surtees in County Durham.

What does the Surtees map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Surtees bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.